Note: The play is not divided into acts or scenes. The divisions
have been created by the writer of the guide to make it easier to
discuss the play.

Scene I

Garcin, led by a room valet, enters a drawing room, which is
decorated in Second Empire style. Garcin says that he hopes to get
used to this accommodation in the course of time. The valet tells
him that some do get used to the room, but many do not. Garcin
then asks the valet about the location of the instruments of torture,
such as racks and red-hot pincers. The valet responds that there are
none. As Garcin strolls about the room, he notices that there are
none of the normal conveniences; the room lacks mirrors,
windows, and beds. When he asks the valet if anyone is allowed to
sleep, the response is negative. Garcin comments that when he
lived down there (on the earth), he used to enjoy sleeping and
dreaming.

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Notes

Although the setting of the play seems at first to be an ordinary
room, it soon becomes obvious that the play is really set in Hell
and that Garcin has just died and been sent to the underworld.
Although the room is sparse, the valet tells him that many of the
people in Hell get used to their rooms, but others never do.

Garcin is surprised that there are no instruments of torture in the
room, but the lack of mirrors, windows, beds, and even
toothbrushes will become a torture in themselves. Garcin is
particularly concerned by the news that he will never again be
allowed to sleep, the thing on earth that refreshes everyone. He
will also be tortured by the fact that he can look down to earth and
see what is going on, making him aware of what he is missing
there.

In this opening scene, the sense of aloneness is very vivid. At this
point in the play, Garcin does not know that he will be joined by
others. He believes that his perpetual hell is living by himself
without the relief of sleeping, staring out a window, or brushing his
teeth. It is an existence filled with nothingness -- much like Sartre's
existential view of life on earth.

It is significant to note that Sartre's view of earth and hell is not the
traditional one. Not only are the obvious instruments of torture
missing, hell is also pictured as being above, with earth down
below.